By Dave Zarum — Sportsnet Magazine
When we look back at the 2007 draft the focus is and always will be on Durant vs. Oden. But look closer and you’ll see Oden is far from being the only questionable pick in the draft.
1. Portland Trail Blazers — Kevin Durant, SF (2)
Career averages: 28.3 points, 5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals
Original selection: Greg Oden
Defensible at the time, this has already gone down as one of the biggest strikes in draft history. Recall the 24-year-old recently leading his team to the NBA Finals, if you somehow don’t know why.
2. Seattle Supersonics — Marc Gasol, C (48)
Career averages: 13.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Original selection: Kevin Durant
Pau’s little bro wasn’t exactly a blue-chip prospect coming out of high school, but it was still a surprise when Gasol fell to late in the second second round and watched five centres be taken before him. Gasol and Al Horford are the only two to play in an all-star game.
3. Atlanta Hawks — Al Horford, C (3)
Career averages: 12.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Original selection: Al Horford
Give the Hawks scouting staff credit where it’s due for making the logical choice in a completely hypothetical exercise.
4. Memphis Grizzlies — Joakim Noah, C (9)
Career averages: 28.3 points, 5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals
Original selection: Mike Conley Jr.
Memphis had a major need at centre as the Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol to the Lakers several months after the draft, and were left starting Darko Milicic at centre for 64 games as a result, so…
5. Boston Celtics — Thaddeus Young, PF (18)
Career averages: 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Original selection: Jeff Green (*traded to Sonics in Ray Allen deal)
Boston had drafted Rajon Rondo with their first pick the year before, which takes Conley off the board. Young fits the Celts identity behind Garnett and Pierce.
6. Milwaukee Bucks — Mike Conley Jr., PG, (4)
Career averages: 11.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists
Original selection: Yi Jianlian
In back-to-back years (’07 and ’08), the Bucks walked away from the draft lottery with Yi and Joe Alexander. Are you sitting down: it didn’t work out.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves — Aaron Afflalo, G, (27)
Career averages: 15.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Original selection: Corey Brewer
Brewer had just played a major role on the two-time NCAA champion Florida Gators, so the pick wasn’t a huge stretch by any means. But on the talent-depleted Timberwolves, a guy like Afflalo would’ve been a great piece for a rebuilding team.
8. Charlotte Bobcats — Wilson Chandler, SF, (48)
Career averages: 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Original selection: Brandon Wright
Chandler has averaged over 15 PG four times in his career so far. Even then the Bobcats could use all the scoring help they can get.
9. Chicago Bulls — Rodney Stuckey, G, (15)
Career averages: 13.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Original selection: Joakim Noah
The Bulls had a glut of guards (Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Thabo Sefolosha, Larry Hughes, Chris Duhon), but Stuckey’s potential was — and is — far greater than all of them.
10. Sacramento Kings — Aaron Brooks, PG, (26)
Career averages: 12.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists
Original selection: Spencer Hawes
Solid point guard for a team that started Beno Udrih at that position for four years following this draft.
11. Atlanta Hawks — Spencer Hawes, PG, (10)
Career averages: 8.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Original selection: Acie Law IV
I know we gave them Noah earlier at No. 3, but even in this imaginary world I just feel more comfortable knowing that the Atlanta Hawks found a way to screw up a draft.
12. Atlanta Hawks — Nick Young, SG, (16)
Career averages: 11.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Original selection: Thaddeus Young
You might not trust him in the dying minutes of a close game, but he can score in bunches, which matters.
13. New Orleans Hornets — Jared Dudley, F, (22)
Career averages: 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Original selection: Julian Wright
There were questions about whether he could adjust to the speed and size of the pro game, but Dudley has proven to be an effective NBA player.
14. Los Angeles Clippers — Carl Landry, F, (31)
Career averages: 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds
Original selection: Al Thornton
It’s easy to forget that Landry was one of the more underrated power forward’s in the league before he was shot in the leg during the 2009 playoffs.
15. Detroit Pistons — Glen Davis, F, (35)
Career averages: 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds
Original selection: Rodney Stuckey
I would have trouble cheering for him if he played for my favourite team, but he’s turned into a surprisingly productive player and averaged close to 20 ppg during the playoffs in Dwight Howard’s absence.
16. Washington Wizards — Marco Belinelli, F, (18)
Career averages: 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds
Original selection: Nick Young
Beli does one thing that is invaluable in basketball: he can shoot. Plus it seems he’s always on terrible losing teams, so the Wizards are a perfect fit.
17. New Jersey Nets — Corey Brewer, F, (7)
Career averages: 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Original selection: Sean Williams
Brewer had just won back to back NCAA titles with the Florida Gators, and has the skills to be an elite NBA defender.
18. Golden State Warriors — Rudy Fernandez, F, (24)
Career averages: 9.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Original selection: Marco Belinelli
Was quietly one of the NBA’s most exciting players when he first hit the league. He got robbed at the ’09 dunk contest.
19. Los Angeles Lakers — Ramon Sessions, PG, (56)
Career averages: 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists
Original selection: Javaris Crittenton
Why the hell not?
20. Miami Heat — Daequan Cook, SG, (21)
Career averages: 7.1 points, 2.3 reboundss
Original selection: Jason Smith
Cook had just come off a great run to the NCAA finals with Oden and the Ohio St. Buckeyes. He was actually traded to Miami on draft day.
21. Philadelphia 76ers — Jeff Green, SF, (5)
Career averages: 13.9 points, 5.5 reboundss
Original selection: Daequan Cook
Remains to be seen how/if he will bounce back from his recent health scare, but it wasn’t long ago that Green was an impact player as part of the Thunder’s young core.
22. Charlotte Bobcats — Tiago Splitter, C, (28)
Original selection: Daequan Cook
Competent big man.
23. Philadelphia 76ers — Jason Smith, C, (28)
Original selection: Wilson Chandler
Ditto.
24. Phoenix Suns — Josh McRoberts, C, (37)
Original selection: Rudy Fernandez
Ditto. (Would’ve actually been a nice fit here).
25. Utah Jazz — Greg Oden, C, (1)
Original selection: Morris Almond
Here’s the deal: Oden has only played 82 games since the Blazers took him with their top pick. In those 82 games, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. Because of his size and natural ability, you can expect similar numbers if he can ever mount a comeback. You wouldn’t risk the 25th pick on that?
26. Utah Jazz — Al Thornton, SF, (14)
Original selection: Aaron Brooks
Thornton had some good years for the Clippers and Warriors. He’s no longer in the NBA.
27. Detroit Pistons — Julian Wright, SF, (14)
Original selection: Arron Afflalo
Poor man’s Al Thornton.
28. San Antonio Spurs — Brandon Wright, C, (14)
Original selection: Tiago Splitter
Had a mini-resurgence with the Mavs this season.
29. Phoenix Suns — Kryslo Fesenko, F/C, (38)
Original selection: Alando Tucker
Decent potential, even still.
30. Philadelphia 76ers — Sean Williams, F, (17)
Original selection: Petteri Koponen
Remember when Williams puked on himself this season? That was gross.
